Updating from IE5 to IE6 on Win98

A legacy problem...

[zCat]

I'm far away from my usual working environment for a while, and I'll shortly be updating the layout of one of my websites. Looks fine in all the proper browsers, unfortunately the only Windows version I have access to is a rather clapped-out Windows 98 with IE 5.0.

I'd like to upgrade this to 6.0, but have absolutely no experience with this (the last Windows version I used was Windows 95). Casting around, it looks like the package to download is "Internet Explore 6 Service Pack 1" - is this a correct assumption, and are there any potential pitfalls?

[DanA]

There shouldn't be any problem.

[bill]

Win98 is very old in OS terms. It is also quite well documented. I can't think of any major upgrade glitches offhand. Recently I've upgraded a virtual PC on Win98 with IE 6 and didn't notice any problems at all.

The Windows Update page is a good place to get the upgrades you want.

[zCat]

Thanks, it seemed to go smoothly. I was just a little worried because it's not my PC, and I heard IE is somehow a semi-integral part of the Windows OS.

[bill]

and I heard IE is somehow a semi-integral part of the Windows OS.

Oh, you're right there. ;) IE6 does indeed work its way into the depths of Win98. That's why you might want to take heed of this notice:

End of support for Windows 98 and Windows Me

July 11, 2006 will bring a close to Extended Support for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me as part of the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy. Microsoft will retire public and technical support, including security updates, by this date.

End of support for Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows XP Service Pack 1 [microsoft.com]

[encyclo]

I'm struggling to find the link, but Microsoft has also said that it is technically unable to correctly patch Windows 98 to protect against some recent vulnerabilities in IE6 - so even if there is theoretically support until July, the OS will remain vulnerable.

The threat is mitigated if you have a firewall installed, either a router or as a software option. You should not be running Windows 98 without one.

[zCat]

bill, encylo, thanks for the info. All my instincts are screaming at me to reinstall the OS from scratch, if nothing else to get rid of 7 years of accumulated crud, but I suspect that would cause me unnecessary angst ;-), as the machine in question belongs to my mother-in-law. Fortunately she is a very occasional internet user, the machine sits behind a DSL router and I've introduced her to Firefox, so I think it'll keep running till the hardware gives out. I've attempted to run some anti-spyware / AV software and found nothing suspiscious.

[vincevincevince]

Good to hear that MS are still managing to have IE6 work with 98, so many things don't these days. I doubt IE7 will work with it.

Microsoft lifecycle, of course, should be backed up with free licenses for the next-to-expire version. i.e. 98 and ME licensees should get a free license for W2000 on the 26th. Or would that be too much like looking after your loyal customers?

[mann]

Me and my friends personal experience is that IE5 more stable that IE6 with service packI. So before installing or updating IE keep copy of IE5 with you.